KARACHI: “My life partner comes from a very well-educated family. He has always been by my side, guiding me and stopping me from committing any mistakes. I would have been nothing without his support and without the love and attention of my mother and older siblings who stood by me after my father’s death when I was only three years old. I have been very blessed and privileged this way. When you get love, you give love,” said Prof Dr Sadiqa Jafarey.

She was speaking at the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) House here on Sunday where members of the medical fraternity with some others from all walks of life came together to pay tribute to her and her husband Prof Dr Naeem Jafarey, both living legends of medicine and medical education in pathology and obstetrics and gynaecology.

Speaking about the professors’ outstanding contributions, Dr Idrees Adhi, president of the PMA, said it was an honour to organise a tribute for such great people in their life only. Acknowledging their, especially Prof Naeem’s, writing contributions, he said: “If we follow his writings, we should be able to prepare a competency-based curriculum for our students of medicine that’ll help us move ahead.”


‘When you get love, you give love’


Well-known gynaecologist Dr Shershah Syed said that whenever he needed any help, both professors guided him. “Prof Sadiqa is the one who made me aware of the issues leading to maternal death. All work that I have done on the prevention of maternal death I owe it to her. Because I wouldn’t even have known about it had she not made me aware of it,” he said.

ENT specialist Dr Qaiser Sajjad recalled how in the third year of medicine at Sindh Medical College he was posted in the gynaecology department and how he and his class fellows would be so terrified of other professors but not Prof Sadiqa. “We also liked watching this one other professor, Prof Naeem. Later, we found out that both the nice professors were a couple,” he said laughing.

Unicef’s health specialist Dr Asif Aslam Farrukhi said he was working on awareness of children’s health when Prof Sadiqa pointed out to him the importance of maternal health. “Whatever public health awareness we have is thanks to her,” he said.

Dr Razia Palijo said that both professors were her role models. “They are recognised as role models not just here but abroad also where so many doctors inquire about them from us,” she said.

Dr Taskeen Abbas said she hated gynaecology until she received guidance from Prof Sadiqa, who made her want to specialise in the field.

Prof Shireen Bhutta said she and so many of her other colleagues felt lucky to have been Prof Sadiqa’s students. “And we are also lucky to have learnt from her how to behave with others. A down-to-earth and humble lady, she means well and so does well,” she said.

Dr Abbas Zafar said that no one had a clue as to what kind of an institution Ziauddin Hospital would be but it was Prof Naeem’s vision that had helped create such a great hospital. “Institutions are built by humans, education and vision, not stones, bricks and cement,” he said.

Dr Rubina Hussain said that now she was a doctor and mother of grown-up children but when she was born, Prof Sadiqa was the doctor who resuscitated her. “Later, she also helped bring my own children into this world,” she said.

Dr Fatima Jawad said after her own mentor Dr Zuberi passed away, Prof Naeem was there to help her grow up and step into a bigger role in her practice.

Senior journalist Zubeida Mustafa said she wrote a lot on health issues and in her field one could not do that without proper know-how of the subject at hand. “That is where Prof Naeem Jafarey has helped me. I am also happy that he always replies to my emails. In fact both the professors take the time and trouble to explain to me in detail what I need to know to address a health issue at any time I ask them in order to help me meet my deadlines,” she said.

Dr Arifa Bhutto, Dr Mirza Ali Hasan, Dr Shaheen, Dr Sirajuddaulah, Prof Asifa Zia, Dr Shahida Zaidi, Dr Ijaz Fatima and PMA general secretary Dr Qazi M. Wasiq also spoke.

Prof Naeem Jafarey thanked everyone present.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2014

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